USN awards autonomous mine countermeasure retrofit contract
USN personnel conduct a Knifefish UUV test. (Photo: USN/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian M Brooks)
Five Knifefish UUVs will be retrofitted under a new deal for General Dynamics from the USN.
General Dynamics Mission Systems is retrofitting five Surface Mine Countermeasure Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (SMCM UUV) systems to the Block I configuration, under a $72.80 million sole-source contract from US Naval Sea Systems Command.
The deal also includes engineering support services, the DoD announced on 7 May.
Work will be performed in Quincy, Massachusetts (60%); Greensboro, North Carolina (26%); and Taunton, Massachusetts (14%), and is expected to be completed by April 2023.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that General Dynamics Mission Systems supplies its Knifefish system to the USN under the SMCM UUV programme. The UUV is a medium-class platform designed for deployment from the Littoral Combat Ship.
In July 2020, the DoD awarded General Dynamics a deal worth about $13.5 million for ongoing engineering on Knifefish.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![How Russia is ramping up efforts to counter drones in Ukraine]()
How Russia is ramping up efforts to counter drones in Ukraine
Russian forces in Ukraine have been employing multifaceted strategies to counteract drones, as a past reliance on large-scale electronic warfare has shifted towards diverse, localised countermeasures.
-
![Tekever unveils new swarm-controlling UAS]()
Tekever unveils new swarm-controlling UAS
Tekever has manufactured the AR3, AR4 and AR5 UAS with all systems sharing common electronics and software architecture, which has enabled the reuse of ground segment elements within the new ARX UAS.
-
![Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems]()
Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems
As the dynamics of aerial combat rapidly evolve, Chinese scientists have engineered a sophisticated air separation drone model that can fragment into up to six drones, each capable of executing distinct battlefield roles and challenging the efficacy of current anti-drone defences such as the UK’s Dragonfire laser system.
-
![Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences]()
Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences
Advancements in air defence technologies have begun to reshape aerial combat dynamics in the Middle East, as illustrated by recent events involving the Israeli Air Force and Hezbollah.
-
![Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way]()
Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way
Both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war have been using UAS for effective low-cost attacks, as well as impactful web and social media footage. Thousands more have now been committed to Ukrainian forces.
